Display device



Sept. 27, 1966 w, A. JAMES ET AL 3,275,159

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Jan. 15, 1965 E R A S TML Y M E N VIUA R m W m M m A N H L 0 Wd Fgi/MM r/W United States Patent Q 3,275,159 DISPLAY DEVICE William A. James, Bay Village, and John J. Wallace, Cleveland, Ohio, assignors to The Sherwin Williams Company, a corporation of Ohio Filed Jan. 15, 1965, Ser. No. 425,756 3 Claims. (Cl. 211-49) This invention, as indicated, relates to a display device,

and more particularly to a self-service display cabinet.

This invention is particularly suited for displaying cylindrical pressurized spray containers for paint. Therefore, the following description will be in relation thereto.

Advertising, as we know it today, is perhaps the most important key to sales. Incentives to buy are placed in the minds of consumers by cleverly worded slogans and jingles. Akin to this is the manner in which the product is displayed. Certainly, a well planned, cleverly arranged display of the product is a determining factor when the consumer makes his or her selection, for creative displays oftentimes act as gentle persuaders for inducing the consumer to purchase the product displayed. This is especially true in displaying paint containers, as a galaxy of colors exist and it is desirable to display as many as possible. Rummaging through a multiplicity of containers would be most disheartening, and certainly discourage the consumer from buying the product. Therefore, it is imperative that the containers be displayed in an orderly fashion to proverbially place the container with the desired color paint, at the fingertips of the consumer. This invention accomplishes this by providing a device which artistically displays the containers while permitting convenient accessibility to them.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, the following description and annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but a few of the various forms in which the principle of this invention may be employed.

In the annexed drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of this invention, showing in particular the many containers which may be stored and'displayed therein.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken in the plane indicated by the line 22 of Fig. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of this invention, showing in particular the mechanism for rotating the portion of the display device for storing and displaying the containers.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken in the plane indicated by the line 44 of FIG. 3.

Briefly stated, this invention is in a device for displaying containers, e.g., pressurized paint containers. The device comprises a body and top portion. A portion of the body intermediate its ends in the form of a cylinder and has disposed therein a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial container receiving recesses longitudinally extending in the cylindrical portion. The recesses are designed to have containers stacked therein. The device is, preferably, constructed to resemble the spray containers displayed therein.

Referring generally to FIGS. 1-4 of the annexed drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown an apparatus or device, generally indicated at 10, for displaying a plurality of paint containers, e.g., spray paint containers 11, 12, and 13. The device is characterized by a body portion 14 having a cylindrical center portion or section 15 intermediate its end portions or sections 16 and 17, respectively.

The cylindrical section 15 has disposed therein, a plural i-ty of circumferentially spaced, radial container receiving recesses, e.g., recesses 18, 19 and 20. The container receiving recesses longitudinally extending in the cylindrical section 15. Each recess is designed to have stacked therein, a plurality of similar containers, e.g., recesses 18, 19 :and 20 are designed to have stacked therein, a plurality of containers 11, 12 and 13, respectively. The caps of the containers, e.g., cap 9 of container 13, are desirably colored to match the paint in the containers, and are exposed to the buyer for his convenience in selecting the desired color of paint.

In the embodiment shown, the display device 10 is constructed to resemble the pressurized spray paint containers displayed therein, e.g., containers 11, 12 and 13. This presents an eye-catching display of the product, and instantIy presents an image of the product displayed. The end sections 16 and 17, respectively, of the body 14, are cylindrical and have the same diameter as the cylindrical center section 15. The body 14 is covered by a top, generally indicated at 21.

The top 21 comprises stepped cylindrical portions orsections 22, 23, 24 and 25 of the succeeding smaller diameters. The uppermost cylinder 25 is designed to resemble a spray nozzle of a pressurized fluid dispensing container.

A display panel 26 in the form of a triangle, radiates from the spray nozzle 25, and is designed to resemble a spray pattern of paint emanating from the nozzle of an actual container, e.g., containers 11, 12 and 13. The display panel 26 is designed to receive indicia for advertising the product.

A display panel 27 is disposed on the outer surface of the end section 17. Depending on the size of the display panel 27, a plurality of like panels may be circumferentially spaced around the outer surface 7 of section 17. Panels 27 are also designed to receive indicia advertising the product. Advertising indicia, in the form of figures using the displayed product, may also be placed on the outer cylindrical surface 8 of the bottom end section 16.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4 of the annexed drawings, there is shown another embodiment of the display device 10. The two embodiments are similarly configured, the only diiference being that the cylindrical section 15 of this embodiment is mounted for rotation between sections 16 and 17 making the containers more accessible. Any suitable mechanism may be used to mount section 15 for rotation between sections 16 and 17.

In the embodiment shown section 15 is mounted for rotation about a rod or pipe 30 coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the device 10. To add rigidity to the structure of the device 10, the pipe 30 is made coextensive therewith. Pipe 30 is secured to bottom section 16, by any suitable means. For example, a rigid disc 31 with a centrally disposed, downwardly extending hub 32 integral therewith, is secured to end 33 of section 16. The disc 31 and hub 32 have a centrally disposed pipe opening 34 extending therethrough. Hub 32 acts to strengthen disc 31.

A rigid disc 36 is secured to end 35 of section 16. A standard pipe fitting, e.g., street flange 37, is centrally disposed on the disc 36 and secured thereto, by any suitable means, e.g., fitting 37 is recessed in disc 36 and secured thereto by screws 38.

The pipe 30 is set into the pipe opening 34, and its end 39 threadably engaged in the street flange 37. A rigid washer 42 surrounds pipe 30 and abuts disc 31, functioning as a spacer between sections 15 and 16.

The cylinderical section 15 is rotatably mounted on pipe 30 above bottom section 16 by any suitable means. For example, similar rigid discs 45 and 46 having oppositely and centrally disposed hubs 47 and 48, respectively, secured thereto and integral therewith are fastened to ends 49 and 50, respectively. The two discs with hubs extending therefrom each have a centrally disposed pipe opening 51 extending therethrough. Section is mounted to pipe 30 above bottom section 16, by pipe 30 passing upwards through the openings 51 in discs 45 and 46, respectively. Hubs 47 and 48 act as bearings when section 15 is rotated, and also strengthen discs 45 and 46, respectively.

Top 21 and section 17 are secured together and fixedly mounted to pipe 30 above section 15, and section 17 being mounted first on pipe 30. A rigid disc 55 with a centrally disposed, upwardly extending hub 56 integral therewith is secured to section end 57. The disc'and hub have a centrally disposed pipe opening 58 extending therethrough. Another rigid washer 59v is placed on pipe 30 abutting disc 46 and functions as a spacer between sections 15 and 17. Section 17 is then mounted on pipe 30 above section 15, pipe 30 passing upwards through opening 58. I

A disc 62 is secured in the end 63 of the cylindrical nozzle .portion 25 of top 21. A configured recess 64 is formed in surface 65 of disc 62. Recess 64 is designed to receive and hold therein a similarly configured clip 60 secured to end 66 of pipe 30 by any suitable means. For example, a plurality of radially extending fins 67, 68 and 69 are welded to a coupling or cap 70, which is threadably secured to end 66. Recess 64 is then configured to receive the fins 67, 68 and 69.

As seen in FIG. 3, top 21 is Wedgingly secured to end 71 of section 17. As top 21 is placed on section 17, the clip 60 is received into the recess 64. The coaction between the clip 65 and recess 64 keeps top 21 and section 17 from rotating relative to the bottom section 16. The washers 42 and 59 as previously indicated, maintain section 15 in spaced relation from sections 16 and 17 respectively, and permits unhampered rotation of section 15 about pipe 30. The display panels previously described are also provided in the embodiment of the invention.

Thus there has been described, a new and novel device for displaying containers, e.g., pressurized spray paint coutainers. The device is designed to present a multitude of such containers for convenient accessibility by the consumer.

Other modes of applying the principle of this invention may be employed instead of those specifically set forth above, changes being made as regards the details herein 4 disclosed, provided the elements set forth in any of the following claims, or the equivalent of such be employed.

It is, therefore, particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed as the invention:

1. A device having the configuration of a conventionally designed pressurized spray container for displaying and storing containers, comprising in combination:

(a) a body portion including:

(1) a cylindrical portion disposed intermediate the ends of the body portion and mounted for rotation about its own longitudinal axis, a section of the cylindrical portion taken in a plane normal to its said longitudinal axis including:

(i) a plurality of circumferentially spaced recesses extending radially into the cylindrical body, each recess being formed between a pair of opposing planar wall surfaces;

(ii) the recesses being substantially coextensive with said cylindrical portion and parallel to its said longitudinal axis;

(b) a top portion for covering the body portion, comprising stepped cylindrical portions of succeeding smaller diameters, the uppermost cylindrical portion configured to represent a spray nozzle;

(c) a triangularly shaped display panel secured to, and extending from the spray nozzle portion of said top portion, the display panel designed to receive and display advertising indicia; and

(d) means for mounting the cylindrical portion for rotation about its own longitudinal axis.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the rotating means includes a shaft extending longitudinally through the cylindrical portion.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the axis of the shaft coincides with the longitudinal axis of said body portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,930,844 10/1933 Ruddell 3l2252 2,300,799 11/1942 Nausbaum 211-49 FOREIGN PATENTS 358,320 12/1961 Switzerland.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

J. F. FOSS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE HAVING THE CONFIGURATION OF A CONVENTIONALLY DESIGNED PRESSURIZED SPRAY CONTAINER FOR DISPLAYING AND STORING CONTAINERS, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) A BODY PORTION INCLUDING: (1) A CYLINDRICAL PORTION DISPOSED INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OF THE BODY PORTION AND MOUNTED FOR ROTATION ABOUT ITS OWN LONGITUDINAL AXIS,A SECTION OF THE CYLINDRICAL PORTION TAKEN IN A PLANE NORMAL TO ITS SAID LONGITUDINAL AXIS INCLUDING: (I) A PLURALITY OF CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED RECESSES EXTENDING RADIALLY INTO THE CYLINDRICAL BODY, EACH RECESS BEING FORMED BETWEEN A PAIR OF OPPOSING PLANAR WALL SURFACES; (II) THE RECESSES BEING SUBSTANTIALLY COEXTENSIVE WITH SAID CYLINDRICAL PORTION AND PARALLET TO ITS SAID LONGITUDINAL AXIS; (B) A TOP PORTION FOR COVERING THE BODY PORTION, COMPRISING STEPPED CYLINDRICAL PORTIONS OF SUCCEEDING SMALLER DIAMETERS, THE UPPERMOST CYLINDRIAL PORTION CONFIGURATED TO REPRESENT A SPARY NOZZLE; (C) A TRIANGULARLY SHAPED DISPLAY PANEL SECURED TO, AND EXTENDING FROM THE SPARY NOZZLE PORTION OF SAID TOP PORTION, THE DISPLAY PANEL DESIGNED TO RECEIVE AND DISPLAY ADVERTISING INDICIA; AND (D) MEANS FOR MOUNTING THE CYLINDRICAL PORTION FOR ROTATION ABOUT ITS OWN LONGITUDINAL AXIS. 